Numbering-machine.



' PATENTED AUG. 1, 1905.

1. K. SGOTFORD. NU'MBERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 796,155. I PATENTED AUG. 1,1905. Y K. SOOTFORD.

NUMBERING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 26, 1903.

ANDREW u mum/w no m wroumooqM-mm w/mxmcwn. n. c

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OEEICE.

LOUIS, K. SOOTFORD,OF CHICAGO, IIiLINoIs, VASSIGNOR To INDEPENDENT MANUFACTURING COMPANY. OF, GHIGAGO, ILLINOIs, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

NUMBERING-Ii IIACHINE.

Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

Application filed May 26,1903. Serial No. 158,873.

To all whom it may concern: I

. Be. it knownthat I, LonIs K, SCOTEORD, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago,Gook county,Illinois,have: invented certain new and useful Improvementsin N umbering-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

1 This invention relates to that class of numbering-machines which are automatic in their action and which are usually made so that they may be adjusted in order to permit the user to print the numbers successively or to duplicate the numbers before the machine automatically changes the number or to repeat by printing the same number over and over again.

. Another of the objects of my invention is to provide a machine of this character which i is also arranged to triplicate the printing that is, to provide a machine which in addition to the other adjustments just mentioned shall be able to print the same number three times before automatically changing. to the next number, and then to print the next number threetimes, and so on.

- A second object of my invention is to provide a pawl-operating mechanism which can be located entirely on one side of the wheelcarrying frame or yoke instead of being connected on both sides of the frame or yoke and straddling the wheels, as is now common. My invention, however, is not limited to a stamp of thischaracter in which the pawls are necessarily on one side, as the invention may be carried outin other ways,

Further objects are to provide an improved carrying mechanism and an arrangement to displace the common forms of complicated drop-ciphers. Y Y

With the aforesaid objects in view and with the distinct idea that my invention asthus outlined is merely generally stated in its pref erable embodiment my invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combinations of the parts, as will hereinafter be more particularly described and then definitely set forth by the claims at the end hereof. In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, and which represent one way of carrying out my invention, Figure 1 is an end elevation, with parts broken away, of a hand-stamp made in accordance with my ideas: Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a 1e same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the.

ism in its normal position.

. the back in printing position.

same with the operating-handle and its connected parts removed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the pawl-frame and pawls detached. Fig. 5' is a perspective view of-the adjusting-crank and controller, also detached. Fig. 6 is a section of the same. Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are diagrammatic views of the pawls and theircontroller in the various positions they occupy. Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are side elevations of the consecutive, dupli cate, and triplicate ratchetwheels, respectively, it being understood, of course, that the consecutive ratchetwheel is integrally secured to the units numbering-wheel,as shown. Figs. 14 and 15 are sectional views, on an enlarged scale, showing my new carrying mechafiism and my drop-cipher, the first of these figures showing the parts in their normal positions and the second of said figures show-' ing the said wheels in the act of carrying. Fig. 16 is a side elevation, on a smaller scale, of the opposite sides of these wheels. Fig. '17 is asectional detail showingall these wheels in position on their barrel and their relative locations, the parts being viewed from. the rear in order to see the drop-cipher mechanism, and with the thousands-wheel in its dropped position and the last wheel with its outaway portion in position to keep it from printing. Fig. 18 is an enlargedflsection of one of the numbering-wheels and its drop mechan- Fig. 19 is a similarsection of the same with the wheel out of printing alinement and showing the wheel at Fig. 20 is a perspective view .of one of the movable sections. Referring now to the details of the drawings by numerals, 1 indicates the main frame, which may be made of the usual or any desired construction and in which operates the ordinary or any preferred style of wheelframe or yoke 2, from which yoke projects the ordinary tubular spindle 3, in which is 10- cated the spring 4, operating within the handle 5 to cause the said handle, tubular spindle 3, and yoke 2 to be normally held in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as is usual in this class of hand-stamps. Nothing is claimed on the parts so far described, and therefore further description of the same is unnecessary, except to state that they may be moditied as occasion may require.

The aforesaid wheel-frame or yoke 2, as its name implies, carries the series of numbering-wheels 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, and these Wheels are rotatably carried on a barrel l2. (Shown best in Figs. 3, 14, 15, and 17.) These numbering-Wheels may be provided with the usual or spring-actuated detents 13 for permitting the numbering-wheels to be moved when occasion requires, but which normally hold the wheels in their proper relative positions, as is well understood by those familiar with this art.

Preferably situated alongside of the numbering-wheels and of course on the barrel 12 is a series of ratchet-wheels, (shown best in Figs. 11, 12, and 13,)these ratchet-wheels being numbered 14, 15, and 16, respectively. Before describing the mechanism for carrying 1 will describe the pawl mechanism for operating these ratchet-wheels, it of course being understood that the first ratchet-wheel 14 is formed integrally, or at least so as to move with the units num bering-wheel 7. My pawl mechanism isshown detached in the perspective view, Fig. 4, and is also shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and from these views it will be seen that the pawl-carrying frame comprises a ring or other suitable device 20, which is carried on the barrel 12 at the left-hand side of the numbering and ratchet wheels, as shownin Fig. 17. Projecting from the ring 20 is an arm 21, which may be formed integral with said ring or secured to the same by screws, as shown in Fig. 4, and the upper end of this arm 21 is provided with two ears 22, between which is pivoted the pawl-carrier 23, a pin 24 passing through the ears 22, so as to act as the pivot for said pawl-frame. The said pawl-frame 23 is somewhat loosely mounted upon the pin or spindle 24, and in order to hold it in its normal position I employ a small coiled spring 25, as shown in Fig. 3. This spring normally holds the pawls (to be described) in contact with the ratchetwheels and yet permits a slight movement of said pawls relatively to said ratchet-wheels. Three pawls 26, 27, and 28 are carried by the pawl-frame 23., and their upper ends are integral with each other and are secured by a screw 29, as shown in said Fig. 3. The pawlframe is provided with a flange 30 on one side and a quadrant 31 on the other side, and the flange and quadrant together support a controller, which is best shown in the perspective view of Fig. 5 and which comprises a main part 32, formed with various fiat sides, hereinafter more particularly described, and with a crank 33 and handle 34. This handle 34 is formed peculiarly in that it has an outer casing or tube 35,through which passes a spindle 36, connected with the handle 34, a spring 37 being employed to normally hold said handle 34 so as to project the end of the spindle 36 through the crank .33. The quadrant 31 is provided with four perforations, designated as R for repeat, 0 for consecutive, D for duplicate, and T for triplicate, and which perforations are formed on an are described by the pin 36, so that the said pin may be caused to project into any one of the perforations, and thereby lock the controller 32 in position. The object of this construction is to permit the user to move the controller 32 by means of the handle 34, and the controller, according to its location, controls the location of the pawls, as will be described.

Before further describing the pawls it might be well to state that the ring 20 of the pawl-carrying frame is provided with :1 lug 40, which forms a means by which the ring 20 may be pivotally connected to a screw or other pivot 41, projecting from the main frame, by means of a curved link 42, (shown in Fig. 1,) and that the usual inking-pad lever 45 swings on pivots 45 on the main frame 1 and is connected to the yoke 2 by means of links 45". .It will be understood that as the yoke 2, with its numbering and ratchet wheels, are depressed as the operator depresses the handle 5 the pawl-frame and its ring 20 will of course be carried downward with the yoke 2, and inasmuch as the pawl-frame and its ring 20 are pivotally connected with the main frame by the said link 42 the pawl-frame is necessarily moved toward the stamp proper in the direct-ion of the arrow shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the yoke 2 being cut away, as shown at 44, to permit the lug 40 to have this inward motion. During this movement of course the numbering and ratchet wheels are descending, and as the pawl-carrieris caused to swing with respect to the ratchet-wheels, as just described, it will be readily understood that when the spring 4 causes the parts to again assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the upward movement of the yoke 2 will cause the pawl-carrier 23 and its pawls to move back to their normal positions. (Shown in Figs. 1 and 3.) As the pawl-carrier 23 is provided with three pawls 26, 27, and 23, which are directly over the ratchet-wheels 14, 15, and 16, as shown in Fig. 2, it will be evident that during the downward movement of the numbering and ratchet wheels the pawls, owing to theindependent inward movement of the pawl-carrier 23, are thus caused to move around and over the ratchet-wheels until they drop behind the. next tooth. It will also be evident that on the. return of the numbering-wheels to their upper positions the pawls moving in the opposite direction will strike against the ratchet-teeth, and thus move the ratchet-wheels, while the pawl-carrier assumes the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The purpose of the controller 32 is to enable the operator to control the positions of the pawls 26, 27, and 28, so as to properly engage the ratchet-wheels 14, 15, and 16, as occasion may require. Therefore the controller 32 is so formed as to enable the operator to move the pawls 26, 27, and 28 so that all of them may be out of engagement with the ratchet-wheels 14, 15, and 16, in which event the same number will be printed continuously, as nothing can move the numbering-wheels, or so that the operator may cause any one of the pawls to engage its corresponding ratchet-wheel to print consecutively, duplicate, or triplicate. Now by referring to Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 wewill see the controller 32 represented in its various positions diagrammatically, and that it is provided with three portions u, o, and w, and that these portions are formed so as to coact with the pawls 26, 27, and 28 and control the positions of said pawls. Itwill also be seen from the diagrammatic views that the portion acoacts with the pawl 26; the portion 4; with pawl 27 and the portion w with pawl 28. Then by referring specifically to Fig. 7 it will be seen that all of the pawls u, o, and to have flat sides a, formed on a common plane at a common distance fromthe center .of rotatio'n'of the controller 32, andthat when the controller is in such a position that this spindle 36 engages the perforation marked R in the quadrant 31 all the flat sidesa w-ill'bein the position show-n in said Fig. 7, and thus all "the pawls 26, 27, and 28 will be in the same plane, and the flat sides ware so situated that when the same pawls 26, 27, and 28 engage them, as

shown in Fig. 7, the ends of the said "pawls are permitted-t0 be just out of engagement with the ratchet-wheels 14, 15, and 16, so that the portions may slip by said ratchet-wheels without rotating them. understood that no matter how many times the handle 5 is operated the pa'wlframe 23 may be moved without in anyway causing its pawls to touch and operate the ratchetwheels, so as to change the sequence of the numbers; but just as soon as the operator catches .hold of the handle 34 and draws the spindle 36 outward, so. that itdisengages the perforation R and moves the crank 33until the spindle 36 engages the next perforation, which is marked C, (for *cOnsecutiveJ) the controller 32 will be rotated to the point indicated diagrammaticallyin Fig. 8, where itwill be noticed that although there are still two flat sides I) to engage two of the pawlsone of the pawls .26 iscngaged by the point so, which projects so far from the center of rotation of v the controller 32 as to causethe appropriate pawl-26 to be very much depressed.- This depression or movement of the pawl 26 causes said pawl to move toward the ratchet-wheel 14, so as to engage the teeth of the latter, and now whenever the handle is depressed to cause the wheels to print the pawl 26 at each downward movement of thenumbering-wheels slips over the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 14, and on'each upward movement of the numbering-Wheels the pawl 26 by engaging one of the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 14 causes said ratchet-wheel It will therefore be to rotate, thus rotating the numberin -wheel 7, which has already been mentioned as'being formed integral with or moving with the ratchet-wheel14. Inasmuch as the ratchetwheel 14- has a tooth for each number on the ratchet-wheel, it follows that at each reciprocation of the numbering-wheels the pawl 26 will engage the ratchet-wheel 14 to move said wheel and the units-wheel, so as to present a new number at each act of printing.

By referring to Fig. 12 it will be noticed that the ratchet-wheel 15.is provided with a deep notch 15 between each two of its teeth and this ratchet-wheel 15 is alongside of the aforesaid ratchet-wheel 14. Now if the operator moves the controller so that the pin or,

spindle 36 engages the third perforation marked D (for duplicate) the controller,

will be again rotated to bring its portions into 3 position, as shown inFig. 9. From this figure it will be seen that the intermediate pawl 27 his now-depressed, owing to the fact that the- Y projecting point- 3 is thrown against it. Of, T course simultaneously with the movement of I the point 3 against the pawl 27 the flat sides 0 of portion to is brought against the pawl 28,

which still permits this pawl to remain in its inactive position, and the flat side 0 is thrown against the pawl 26, and asthis flat side projects one-halfas far from the center of rotation of the controller as the point y does it follows that'the pawl 26is depressed only half as much as the aforesaid pawl 27, so

that in Fig.9 we have one of the pawls 28 thrown. entirely out of engagementwith the 1 ratchet-wheels, the intermediate pawl 27 thrown against said ratchet-wheels, and the first pawl 26 thrown into position between the two pawls 27 andi28. Now byimagining these pawls operatingin' front of the ratchet-wheels 14, 15, and 16, and with the. remembrance that the ratchet-wheel 15 is provided with deep notches 15, heretofore referred to, it will be evident that when the pawl 27 is moved by its pawl-carrier 23 soas toengage'with one of. the ratchet-teeth on the ratchet'wheel 15 said ratchet-wheel will be moved, but'that at the same time the pawl 26 is held away from the ratchet wheel 14, and therefore this ratchet-wheel 14 receives no movement; but at the next reciprocation of the parts the projecting pawl 27 drops into one of the deep recesses 15 of the ratchet-wheel 15, and thus permits the pawl 26 to engage-with one of the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 14, and thus moves this wheel and its unitsswheel. Those skilled in the art ofnumbering-machines will therefore easily see that owing to the positions of the .pawls, as shown in Fig. 9, the pawl 27 will move the-ratchet-wheel 15 at each reciprocation of the numbering-wheels and yet will permit the pawl 26 to engage the ratchet-.wheel-14 only at every other reciprocation or at such times when the pawl 27 is inLthe deep. recesses..-15", and therefore the &

numbering-wheels will be changed at every other reciprocation, and hence will print the same number twice, or, as it is called, duplicate. The third ratchet-wheel 16 is formed with a deep recess 16 after each two ratchetteeth. In other words, on this third ratchetwheel 16 there are two ratchet-teeth and then the deep recess 16, two more ratchet-teeth and then another deep recess 16*, and so on. Now by referring to Fig. 10 it will be seen that the further movement of the controller 32 to the point where the pin or spindle 36 engages the last perforation marked T (for triplicate the controller will be brought to the position shown in this Fig. 10, from which it will be seen that the pawl 28,which has heretofore been inaetiv e, is now depressed by the projecting point 2, while the intermediatepawl 27 is permitted to be out of engagement with theratchetwheels, owing to the flat side (2. The first pawl 26 is, as shown in Fig. 9, also engaged with a flat side at, which projects just far enough to project the pawl 26 half as far as the pawl 28 projects. Now as the numbering-wheels are caused to reciprocate the pawl 28, which engages the ratchet-wheel 16,

causes said ratchet-wheel 16 to idly rotate at each movement of the numbering-wheels; but just as soon as the pawl 28 drops into the deep recess 16 the pawl 26 will be permitted to engage one of the ratchet-teeth on the first pawl 14, and hence on this reciprocation both the wheels 14 and 16 will be caused to move. On the next two reciprocations, however, the pawl 26 is held out of engagement with the ratchetwheel 14, and hence movement is given only to the ratchet-wheel 16. Inasmuch as the pawl 26 is permitted to engage its ratchet-wheel 14 only at every third reciprocation, owing to the location of the deep recesses 16, it will be seen that now the machine will be caused to print the same number three times, or rather to change its sequence of numbers only after every third reciprocation or print.

Of course during the movements so far described there has been no carrying mechanism described, and therefore the pawls have been described as moving only the ratchetwheels and the first numbering-wheel 14; but of course it will be understood that in an automatic numbering-machine there must be a carrying mechanism of some character, and while any carrying mechanism may be used in my machine-such, for example. as the ratchet-Wheels which are interposed between the numbering-Wheels of the ordinary machine I prefer to use the special form of carrying mechanism which I will now describe.

Of course those familiar with the art of numbering-machines are aware of the fact that the units-wheel must be moved'nine times without any movement of the tens-wheel and that at the tenth movement of the units-wheel the carrying mechanism causes a simultaneous movement of both the units and tens wheels.

Likewise the tens-wheel, which has just been stated as moving only once in ten times, is so arranged as to cause the next or hundreds wheel to move at the tenth movement of the tens-wheel, so that the hundreds-wheel thus moves only once in one hundred movements of the units-wheel. In order to effect these movements, I provide the numbering-whecls with the mechanism shown in Figs. 14, 15, and 16. From these figures it will be seen that the side of the units-wheel opposite its ratchetwheel 14'is provided with an annular recess 46, and pivotally connected to the wheel and located in this annular recess is a pivoted trigger 47, which is provided with a spring 48 to cause the tail 49 to swing against the outer edge of the annular recess 46 and to cause the finger 50 to swing toward the center of the wheel. The barrel 12, on which the numbering-wheels rotate, is provided with a longitudinal channel 51, and the numbering-wheel is provided with an opening or slot 52, so that the spring 48 causes the linger 50 to project through this slot and against the periphery of the barrel 12, as shown in Fig. 14. It will be understood that during that portion of the retation of the numbering-wheel during which time the tail 50 passes around the periphery of the barrel 12 the pivoted trigger 47 will occupy the position shown in Fig. 14; but just as soon as the numbering-wheel gets to the point when the finger 50 is opposite the channel 51 the spring 48 causes the trigger 47 to move to the position shown in Fig. 15, and it will remain in this position until the numberingwheel rotates again, when the linger 50 will be caused to again ride on the periphery of the barrel 12. On the opposite numberingwheels are formed ten projecting lugs 54, theselugs being best shown in Fig. 16. These lugs are in just the position to project into the annular chamber 46 of the preceding wheel, and as long as the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 14 the first numbering-wheel may rotate without moving the one next to it; but just as soon as the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 15 the tail of the pivoted trigger 47 projects into the path of one of the lugs 54 of the next numbering-whee], and at the next movement or reciprocation of the numberingwheels thc'two wheels necessarily move together. Then at the next reciprocation the tail 50 of the trigger 47 rides again on the periphery of the barrel 12, and the trigger assumes the position shown in Fig. 14, where it remains for nine reciprocations, and therefore cannot move the next numbering-wheel until the trigger again drops in position to engage the next lug 54. It will of course be understood that all of the numbering-wheels except the last or right-hand one are provided with the pivoted triggers 47 and that all of the numbering-wheels except the units one are provided with lugs 54, and therefore the units numbering-wheel will move by itself until the tenth reciprocation, when it will engage one of the lugs 54 on the tens-wheel and cause it to rotate. The units-wheel thus moves nine reciprocations out of ten, and at every tenth reciprocation the tens-wheel moves, and this continues until the one-hundredth reciprocation, when the pivoted trigger of thetens-wheel projects into the path of one of the projections 54 of the hundreds-wheel, and hence the units, tens, and hundreds wheels all move together. Of course it will be understood that on the thousandth reciprocation the four wheels move, and this same principle governs as many wheels as may be placed on the barrel.

The last part of my invention relates to the features of construction whereby the machine is able to print small numbers without having the ciphers print in advance of said" num bers. This isusually accomplished by what is known as a drop-cipher, and the numbering-wheels of some machines are provided with complicated and expensive separate portions on which the ciphers are formed, and these portions-are so arranged that they may be depressed out of printing alinement, so that they need not print, but are so arranged that when the numbering-wheels are turned. the ciphers will automatically come into position when it is desired to print them as .a part of the number to be printed. Instead of' having drop-ciphers formed as a separate part of each wheel I prefer to providea construction whereby'the wheel as an entirety may drop or be placed out of printing alinement. This construction is shown particularly in Figs. 17, 18, 19, and 20, and before describing them it will of course be under-j stood that the-first or units wheel 7.is notarranged to drop and that the last wheel is cut away at the pointwhe're the cipher would naturally be, so that it is-necessary to provide the drop arrangement for only those wheels that are located between the units wheel and the last wheel.

' Now by-referring to Fig.- 17 it will be noticed that the barrel 12 is provided with three movable sections 7 O one for the tenswheel, one for the hundreds-wheel, and one for thethousands-wheeland byreferring to Figs. 18 and 19 it will be seen that these movable sections 70 are all pivoted on a single pin 71 and are so constructedthat when'they are in the position shown in Fig. 18 they describe, together with the main part of the barrel 12, a true circle, or when they are moved on their pivotal pin 71 into the position shown in Fig. 19 the vertical diameter of the parts 12 and 7 O is considerably reduced. [Hence when-the movable sections 70 are in the position shown in Fig. 18 all of the .wheels will be in alinement, and will therefore print; but when any one of the sections 70 is caused to assume the position illustrated in Fig. 19 its appropriate Wheel can be moved upwardout of printing position, as shown in Fig. 17, where the wheel faces, as indicated at 7 3, and in the recess thus formed is pivoted a dog 74, which is peculiarly formed in that it has two armsone on each side of its pivot one arm, 7 5, arranged to coact with the flat part of the barrel 12 and the other, 76, with the interior of its numbering- The partsare also so proportioned wheel. that when the arm 76 engages theinterior surface of its wheel it forces the other arm 75 against 'the flat face of the barrel 12, which in turn forces the movable section 70 into the position shown in Fig. 18. The numberingwheels are formed with a recess 7 7, and when the parts are moved so that the arm 76 of the dog 74 may enter the recess 77 the dog may swing easily on its pivot, and thus the arm 75 will come entirely within its recess and permitthe movable section 70 to swing on its pivotal pin 7l until it assumes the position shown in Fig. 19, when the diameter of the barrel 12 and the section 7 O is decreased, so as to permit the numberingwheel to drop or move out of printing alinement. In the pre-, ferred form of my device I desire to locate the spring-actuated detent 13 (hereinbefore described) at the upper portion of the barrel 12, and this spring will be sufficient to force the wheel in position" and hold it there as long as the arm-7 6 is opposite or in the recess 77 In the ordinary movements of the numbering-wheels they move by a step-by-step moveinent the distance that is between the interior notches engaged by the detents 13, and these are so located with respect to the recess 77 that in the automatic movement of the ma-.

chine the tail 76 is never allowed to rest opposite its recess except when specially moved.

For instance, in the position shown in Fig.

18 when the numbering-wheel is given one more movement in the direction indicated by the arrow the wheel moves sufficiently to completely pass by the arm 76, so that the portion marked 78 will then engage the arm 76 and hold the wheel in printing position. When, however, it is desired that the ciphers shall not print-as, for-example, when the machine is set to begin its serial numbers with the unit 1'the numbering-Wheels may be moved by hand'from the position shown in Fig-18 just far enough to permit the arm 76 to be opposite its recess 76, and the numberingwheel may then be turned back until again' engaged by its detent 13. This will permit the arm 76 to remain in its recess, and hencethe numbering-wheel may be moved out of printing alinement. When, however,

I the machine is used to print again and again and the units-wheel moves a sufficient number of times to move the wheels that are provided with the drop mechanism and which are in the positions shown in Fig. 19, it will be understood that a single movement of the numbering-wheel will carry it the distance between two of the notches in the wheels, and this will be just suflicient to cause the arm 76 to engage with the interior of the numberingwheel on theopposite side of the recess 77, (marked 78,) so that said arm will be caused to swing on its pivot and move the arm 75 against the flat face of the barrel 12, and thus move the movable section so that it and the barrel 12 describe a full circle, thus automatically returning the numbering-wheel to its printing position.

I am aware that drop-ciphers are very old and have been used in different forms; but I regard mine as essentially different from any heretofore proposed, as the parts are all concealed within the numbering-wheels and no moving part is on the exterior, where it can fill with ink or dirt and become clogged. The new form is also simpler, and therefore cheaper, than those having the separable ciphers. I am aware that a numbering-wheel has heretofore been made so as to drop as an entirety, and therefore do not claim this broadly; but I regard the one herein described as better than the form with which I am familiar, as it provides a movable part which positively moves to permit the wheel to drop. I therefore desire to broadly claim a numberingwheel which is provided with a support having a movable part permitting the numberingwheel to move out of alinement.

In giving the detailed description of the various parts comprising my invention I have stated the operation with the description of each separate mechanism, and the operation of these numbering-machines is so well understood that itis believed unnecessary to give the operation of the machine as a whole. I

In the foregoing description I have referred to my invention as being illustrated and described in its preferable embodiment, and from this it will be evident that I do not limit my invention to the special structure shown in the drawings, as the parts may be changed to a considerable extent without departing from the lines of my invention. I therefore refer to the appended claims as defining the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new is- 1. In a numbering-machine, the combination of numbering-wheels having interior carrying mechanism and ratchet-wheels, a yoke carrying said wheels, and pawl mechanism carried on one side of said numbering-wheels, and within the aforesaid yoke, substantially as described.

2. In a numbering-machine, the combination of a yoke, a set of numbering-wheels supported by said yoke and having interior carrying mechanism, ratchet-wheels and pawl mechanism within said yoke carried entirely at one side of said set of numbering-wheels, substantially as described.

3. In a numbering-machine, the combination of a set of numbering-wheels having interior carrying mechanism, ratchet-wheels at one side of said set of numbering-wheels, a yoke carrying all of said wheels, and pawl mechanism also carried on one side of said set of numbering-wheels and arranged to move as said numbering-wheels are reciprocated, said pawl mechanism supported within said yoke and carrying pawls acting on said ratchetwheels, substantially as described.

4. In a numbering-machine, the combination of a suitable support, numbering-wheels carried on said support and having interior carrying mechanism, and a pawl-carrier also carried on said support and arranged on one side of said numbering-wheels, substantially as described.

5. In a numbering-machine, the combination of a suitable support, numbering-wheels carried on said support and having interior carrying mechanism, and a pawl-carrier comprising an element embracing said support and swinging on the same as said support and numbering-wheels are reciprocated, substantially as described.

6. In a numbering-machine, the combination of a suitable support, numbering-wheels carried on said support and having interior carrying-mechanism, and a pawl-carrier located on one side of said numbering-wheels comprising an element embracing said support and swinging on the same as said numbering-wheels are reciprocated, substantially as described.

7. In a numbering-machine, the combination of a suitable support, numbering-wheels carried on said support and having interior carrying mechanism, and a pawl-carrier comprising a ring surrounding said support and swinging on the same as the numberingwheels are reciprocated, substantially as decribed.

8. In a numbering-machine, the combination of a suitable support, numbering-wheels carried on said support and having interior carrying mechanism, and a pawl-carrier located on one side of said nu mbering-wheels and comprising a ring surrounding said support and swinging thereon as said numberingwheels are reciprocated, substantially as described.

9. In a numbering-machine, the combination of a suitable support, numbering-wheels carried on said support and having interior carrying mechanism, ratchet-wheels also carried on said support on one side of said numbering-wheels, a yoke embracing said wheels, and a pawl-carrier also located on one side of said numbering-wheels within said yoke and having a series of pawls coacting with said ratchet-wheels, substantially as described.

10. In a numbering-machine, the combina-.

tion of a suitable support, numbering-wheels carried on said support and having interior carrying mechanism, ratchet-wheels also carried on said support to one side of said num-: bering-wheels, and a pawl-carrier also located to one side of said numbering wheels and having a series of pawls coacting with said ratchet-wheels, said pawl-carrier and its pawls swinging as thenumbering-wheels and ratchetwheels are reciprocated, substantially as described.

tion of a suitable support, numbering-wheels carried by said support and having interior carrying mechanism, ratchet-wheels, and a pawl-carrier also carried on said support and having a link connecting it with the main frame, whereby said pawl-carrier is swung on said support as said numbering-wheels and their support are reciprocated, substantially as described.

12. In a numbering-machine, the combination of a suitable support,numbering-wheels and ratchet-wheels carried by said support,-

said numbering-wheels having interior carrying mechanism and a pawl-carrier comprising a rlng embracing sa1d support and swinging on the same, and means as a link for con necting said pawl-carrier with the main frame, substantially as described.

13. In a numbering-machine, and in combination withthe numbering-wheels thereof, a pawl-carrier comprising a series. of separately-movable pawls, and means for moving said pawls with relation to each' other, sub'- stantially as described. g

14. In a numbering-machine, and incombination with the numbering-wheels thereof, a pawl-carrier, a series of separately-movable pawls carried thereby, and a controller. for movings'aid pawlswith respect to each other, substantially as described.

15Q-In a numbering-machine, and in combination with the numbering-wheels thereof, a pawl-carrier, a series of separately-movable pawls carried thereby, and a controller coacting. with said pawls, said controller andsaid pawls being. formed to vary theposition of said pawls as said controller islmoved, substantially as described.

16. In a numbering-machine, the combination ofaseries of numbering-wheels,ratchetwheels, a pawl-carrier having pawls coacting with said ratchet-wheels, and a controller carried by said pawl-carrier controlling the.po sitions of said pawls, whereby thepawls may be moved to engage the properratchet wheels, substantially as described.

17. In a numbering-machine, the combination of numbering-wheels and ratchet-wheels, with a series of separately-movable pawls, and a controller for varying the positions of said tion of a series of numbering-wheels, ratchetwheels, and a pawl-carrier mounted adjacent to said wheels, saidpawl-carrier comprising apivoted frame and separately-movable pawls projecting therefrom, and means for varying the position of said pawls,substantially as de scribed. a

19. In a numbering-machine, and in combination with the numbering-wheels thereof,'a

pawl-carrier having pawls projecting there- 11. Ina numberlng-machme, the combinafrom, said pawl-carrier having notches or per' forations therein, and a controller for varying the positions of said pawls, said controller having a part adapted to lit in said notches or recesses, substantially as described.-

20. In a numbering-machine, and in combi nation with the numbering-wheels thereof, pawl-carrier comprising one part having a quadrant Withopenings and a series of paw-ls projecting therefrom and a controller carried thereby and coacting with said pawls to.con-' trol their positions, said controller having a portion entering-the openings in the 'quadrant, substantiallyv as describedi 21. In a numbering-machine, and in combi nation with the numbering-wheels thereof, a pawl-carrier 'having'aseries of pawlsproject-- ing therefrom, and a controller acting on said pawls to vary the positions thereof, saidfcon-- troller havingportions of its sides projecting at .a greater distance from itsv center of rotation than other portions, whereby the con troller will cause tlie'pawls to be projected more or less, according as they are acted on by said portions, substantially as described.

22. In a numbering-machine, and in combi nation with the numbering-wheels thereof, a pawl-carrier having a series of separatelymovable pawls, and a controller having its sides coacting with said pawls, the sides of the said controller being formed at different distances from the center of rotation whereby the pawls. are caused to project at varying distances as the position of" the controller is changed and the sides being shaped so that the side acting onv one pawl is farther from the center than the side acting on another of said pawls, substantially as described.

23. In anumbering-machine, and in combi-v nation with the numbering-wheels thereof, a pawl-carrier having a series of pawls, and a controller acting on said pawls, said controller being formed atone point to place the pawls in the same horizontal plane and the said controller also having a projecting point coacting with one of. the pawls to; project said pawl,

substantially as described.

24. In a numbering-machine, and in combination with the numbering-wheels thereof, a

pawl-carrier having a series of pawls, and a controller acting on sa1d pawls, sa1d controller being formed at one point to place the paWls in the same horizontal plane and having a projecting point coacting, when the controller is moved, with one of the other pawls to project the same beyond the other paWls, and another projecting point coacting, When.the controller is again moved, to project another of said pawls beyond the others, substantially as described.

25. In a numbering-machine, and in combination With the numbering-wheels thereof, a pawl-carrier having a series of pawls, and a controller having portions bearing on said pawls, said portions being so proportioned that in one position the portions project the same distance from the center of rotation, at another position the portion for the first pawl projects beyond the portions for the other paWls, at the next position the portion for the second pawl projects beyond the portionsfor the first and third pawls, and at another position the portion for the third pawl projects beyond the portions for the first and second pawls, substantially as described.

26. In a numbering-machine, the combination of a series of numbering-wheels, a ratchet- Wheel moving with the first numbering-Wheel and having its teeth evenly spaced thereon, a second ratchet-Wheel situated alongside of the first ratchet-wheel and having every other tooth formed With a deep recess, and a third ratchet-Wheel located alongside of the second ratchet-Wheel and having a deep recess at every third tooth, in combination with pawls coacting with said ratchet-wheels, substantially as described.

27. In a numbering-head, a numbering- Wheel, a support for said Wheel, and a movable part permitting said numbering-wheel to be placed out of alinement, substantially as described.

28. In a numbering-head, a numbering- Wheel, a support for said wheel, and a movable part pivoted to said support and permitting the numbering-Wheel to move out of alinement, substantially as described.

29. In a numbering-head, a numbering- Wheel, a support therefor permitting the numbering-Wheel to be moved out of alinement,and a spring acting Within said Wheel to hold it out of alinement, substantially as described.

30. In a numbering-head, a numbering- Wheel, a support therefor permitting the Wheel to be moved out of alinement, and a spring-actuated detent located within said Wheel to hold it out of alinement, substantially as described.

31. In a numbering-head, a numbering- Wheel, a support therefor, and a movable part carried by said support permitting said numbering-wheel to move out of alinement, the said movable part having means coacting with said numbering-wheel for holding said numbering-wheel in position, substantially as described.

32. In a numbering-head, a numbering- Wheel, a support therefor having a movable part permitting the numbering-wheel to be moved out of alinement, said numberingwheel having an opening or recess therein, and said movable part having means coacting With said numbering-wheel to normally hold the numbering-wheel in printing alinement and adapted, at one point, to enter the said opening or recess and permit the numberingwheel to be moved out of alinement, substantially as described.

33. In a numbering-head, a numberingwheel, a support therefor having a movable portion supported thereby and permitting, when moved, the numbering-wheel to be moved out of alinement, a dog pivoted on said movable part and coacting with said numbering-wheel and supporting and controlling the position of the parts, substantially as described.

34. In a numbering-head, a numberingwheel, a support therefor, a movable part carried by said support, a dog pivoted to said movable part and having one arm coacting with the wheel and another arm coacting with the support, the said numbering-wheel having an opening or recess therein, and the said arms holding the numbering-wheel in printing position and one of said arms being adapted to enter said opening or recess and permitting the numbering-wheel to be moved out of alinement, substantially as described.

35. In a numbering-head, a numbering- Wheel, a support therefor having a recess therein, a movable section pivoted in said recess and having a dog pivoted thereto, said numbering-wheel having an opening or recess, and said dog having two arms projecting therefrom, one of said arms coacting with the support and the other with the interior of the numbering-wheel and adapted to hold said nui'nbering-wheel in print-ing alinement, the saidopening or recess, at one point of movement of the numbering-wheel, permitting one of the arms on said dog to enter therein, whereby the numbering-wheel may be moved out of printing alinement, substantially as described.

Signed by me this 22d day of May, 1903.

LOUIS K. SCOTFORI).

I'Vitnesses:

J osn'rn A. GRIFFIN, JOHN M. CAMERON. 

